Binay to Duterte: Your days are numbered

GUTALAC, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines — United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday warned presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that the “law will catch up with you” soon.

“Mister Duterte, you told me to kneel down and pray. You know Mr. Executioner of minors and poor, if there is someone who should kneel down and pray, it is nobody else but you,” Binay said in a press conference here.

“Bilang na ang araw mo (your days are numbered.) The law will soon catch up with you.

“Huwag mo akong pagbabataan Mr. Berdugo hindi ako natatakot sa iyo (don’t threaten me Mr. Executioner, I’m not afraid to you),” Binay added.

Binay said Duterte should prepare “to answer to God and the laws of our country” after repeatedly admitting killing people, including children.

“You have admitted for several times and even bragged about it that you killed thousands of suspected criminals. This is called admission against interest and you should know this being a former fiscal and a lawyer,” Binay stressed.

He said Duterte has confirmed that he led the Davao Death Squad (DDS), a vigilante group believed to be behind the killing of criminals in Davao City.

 “The Davao Death Squad is involved in extra-judicial killings which was condemned by the Amnesty International, United Nations and other human rights organizations,” he said.

“You should answer to the law and to God,” the Vice President said.

Binay, a former human rights lawyer, said he is willing to assist families of the victims of summary executions committed by the DDS.

Binay also promised that if elected president, he would create an independent commission that would investigate the extra-judicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the DDS.

“Killing the poor is not the way to address poverty. Instead, give jobs to jobless, free books and school supplies to poor students, and provide free medicine and hospitalization to our poor constituents,” the Vice President added.

Binay’s vice presidential candidate Sen. Gregorio Honasan II also maintained that summary execution is not the solution to end criminality.

Honasan, whose latest advertisement showed him condemning the use of violence by law enforcers, bared his formula on how he intends to address the issue of crime if elected vice president.

“If we address poverty in our society, then the problem of criminality would be impacted positively. Of course, we understand that this is a long term solution for the immediate future,” he said.

Binay earlier said he would appoint Honasan as crime czar if elected president.

In addition to addressing its root cause, Honasan said law enforcement personnel would be better equipped, trained and highly motivated and disciplined under the Binay administration.

He said rules of engagement would be clearly defined and that the use of lethal force may only be used when the lives of law enforcers or innocent bystanders are put at risk.

“If these criminals will surrender, we will read them their rights. If they resist, then we will do what is necessary to stop them. But definitely under Binay-Honasan administration, summary execution will not be tolerated,” the senator added.                 – With Janvic Mateo, Ghio Ong